Metallic Wick Assembly

ABSTRACT

A metallic wick assembly includes at least one mesh member and a sleeve member. The at least one mesh member includes a first length defined between first and second ends thereof. The sleeve member is mounted around the mesh member and includes a second length defined between two longitudinal opposite ends thereof. The second length is less than the first length. A third length is defined between a distal end of the sleeve member and the first end of the mesh member. The sleeve member is slidable with respect to the mesh member to adjust the third length for controlling the flame scale.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a wick assembly and, more particularly,to a wick assembly made of metal and provided for being mounted to alamp device for precisely control the flame combustion scale.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional lamp device includes a fuel cup storing fuel, and a wickconnecting into fuel stored in the fuel cup. Moreover, the wick isnormally made out of braided cotton and works by capillary action. Fuelis drawn up through the wick to reach the flame produced on the disk.The above lamp device is actively used for various purposes, such aslighting, decorating, or increasing atmosphere. For example, an oil lampis used in religion, or an alcohol lamp is used in medical or chemicallaboratories.

The conventional cotton wick must be cut to a predetermined lengthadapted for being mounted to the lamp device. However, after trimming,the cotton wick is easily loosened at its terminal end. After ignition,fuel vaporizes and combusts on the wick, the tip of the cotton wick willbe carbonized and burnt out gradually on the tip due to highertemperature on the top of flame. Thus, the cotton wick must be pulledout and trimmed to a certain length every once in a while to maintaincombustion scale. Trimming the cotton wick results in the wickeventually unconnected with fuel, so that users can only replenish fuelor replace a new wick. It is inconvenient and wasteful.

The wick length, diameter, stiffness and fire-resistance are the majorfactors used to adjust fuel wicking and flame scale for the lamp device.However, cotton wicks with low stiffness and low fire-resistance cannotbe adjusted easily to maintain proper fuel wicking and flame scale,especially for high viscosity or high flash point fuels results inproducing carbon deposits and difficult to ignite. If the fuel drawn isslower than it burns, wick will be carbonized and burnt out. If the fueldrawn is more than it burns, usually occurring on burning high flashpoint fuel, will cause slow evaporation of the fuel and produce soot dueto incomplete combustion. Incomplete combustion not only produces sootbut also toxic fumes.

Taiwan Patent No. 493,722 discloses a wick includes a plurality offiberglass filaments disposed and assembled at a center thereof to forma fiberglass layer, and a plurality of fiberglass yarns and melted silksarranged around the fiberglass layer. The fiberglass layer is able todraw fuel by capillary action, hard to burn down, and not easily beingloosened at its terminal end. However, the fiberglass layer does notdraw fuel effectively to cause the flame extinguished easily and theflame scale difficult to be controlled. Moreover, Taiwan Patent No.580,106 discloses a wick includes a cotton thread enabling to draw fueland a plurality of fiberglass filaments covering around the cottonthread to avoid the cotton thread diverged to provide a compound wick.

Therefore, the wick disclosed by said patents both include fiberglassfilaments, but the fiberglass is expansive, difficult processing.Momentously, the wick is a large quantity of consumable items, but thefiberglass wick is expensive, and not environment-friendly.Additionally, when the fiberglass wick is processed, inhaling thefiberglass can cause damage to human lungs and be harmful tomanufacturing personnel. Inhaling of fiberglass will jeopardize thehealth of workers during fiberglass-reinforced plastic processing. Thefiberglass fiber can also cause skin, eye and throat irritation tousers. At higher exposure levels, the fiberglass also has beenassociated with skin rashes and difficulty in breathing.

Likewise, fiberglass wick will be carbonized and burned out duringcombustion, but only slower than cotton wick, so that the fiberglasswick needs be trimmed also. Furthermore, the fiberglass wick and thecotton wick are easy to sag due to gravity when they are saturated withfuel. Thus, the user cannot adjust the flame height or scale easily. Ifa user wants to adjust the flame height or scale, the user has to pullthe wick out from the lamp device constantly. At the same time, the usermay also contact fuel in the wick and cause inconvenience or evendanger.

The present invention is, therefore, intended to obviate or at leastalleviate the problems encountered in the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention revolves these requirements and other problems inthe field of a metallic wick assembly including at least one mesh memberand a sleeve member mounted around the mesh member. The mesh memberfirst and second ends disposed opposite to each other, first and secondsurfaces respectively extended from the first end to the second endthereof and arranged opposite to each other, a plurality of meshespenetrating the first and second surfaces between the first and secondends thereof, and a transport channel extending from the first end tothe second end thereof drawing fuel by capillary action. The mesh memberincludes a first length defined between the first and second endsthereof. The sleeve member includes a second length defined between twolongitudinal opposite ends thereof. The second length of the sleevemember is less than the first length. A third length is defined betweena distal end of the sleeve member and the first end of the mesh member.The sleeve member is slidable with respect to the mesh member to adjustthe third length for controlling the flame scale.

In an example, the metallic wick assembly generally includes a meshmember rolled into a tubular shape and having a plurality of circlesspaced from each other along a longitudinal axis to form an Archimedeanspiral cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

In another example, the metallic wick assembly generally includes thesleeve member has a plurality of apertures, with the sleeve memberdelimited first and second sections at two opposite ends thereof, withthe plurality of apertures arranged at the first section to provide fuelpassing therethrough and drawn up freely to the first end of the meshmember.

Preferably, the first section of the sleeve member is arranged adjacentto the first end of the mesh member and has a fifth length. The secondsection of the sleeve member is arranged adjacent to the second end ofthe mesh member and has a sixth length. The fifth length is less thanthe sixth length.

Preferably, the range of the ratio of the fifth length to the sixthlength is 0.3 to 0.5.

In another example, the metallic wick assembly includes a plurality ofmesh members respectively rolled into the plurality of different-sizedtubes assembled and radially spaced from each other along a longitudinalaxis to form a concentric circular cross section perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis.

In a further example, the metallic wick assembly includes a plurality ofmesh members spaced from each other and arranged in a longitudinalstacked array.

Preferably, each of the plurality of mesh members is formed in a flatshape.

Preferably, the sleeve member is made of metal and formed in arectangular tubular shape.

An advantage of the metallic wick assembly according to the presentinvention is that the sleeve member is slidable with respect to the meshmember to adjust the third length for controlling the flame scale.

Another advantage of the metallic wick assembly according to the presentinvention is that the sleeve member is slidably mounted around the meshmember to prevent the mesh member unassembled.

A further advantage of the metallic wick assembly according to thepresent invention is that the sleeve member has the plurality ofapertures to provide fuel passing therethrough and drawn up freely tothe first end of the mesh member.

A further advantage of the metallic wick assembly according to thepresent invention is that the sleeve member is slidably mounted aroundthe mesh member, so that they are assembled each other easily andquickly.

A further advantage of the metallic wick assembly according to thepresent invention is that the metallic wick assembly is made of metal,so that it cannot be carbonized or consumed to maintain a fixed shapeand height thereof to maintain the flame combustion scale.

A further advantage of the metallic wick assembly according to thepresent invention is that the mesh member has an end producing the flamethereon and heated by the flame to cause fuel drawn to the end thereofvaporized and combusted more completely due to higher wick temperature.

A further advantage of the metallic wick assembly according to thepresent invention is that the number of circles, the size of meshes thesurface roughness and the coating materials of the mesh member areadjustable to control ability of capillary action adapted for wickingvarious fuels with different viscosity, so that the metallic wickassembly can draw more viscous fuel faster to the tip thereof and can beignited shortly (one minute or less) after inserting the wick in fuel.

A further advantage of the metallic wick assembly according to thepresent invention is that the metallic wick assembly does not loosen ata terminal end of the mesh member after cutting a predetermined lengthor trimming to be mounted on the lamp device easily.

A further advantage of the metallic wick assembly according to thepresent invention is that the metallic wick assembly is made of metalreducing manufacturing costs to provide a popular price, in a preferredform, the mesh member can be formed by a common metal wire mesh and thesleeve member can be formed by a common metal tube.

The present invention will become clearer in light of the followingdetailed description of illustrative embodiments of this inventiondescribed in connection with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The illustrative embodiments may best be described by reference to theaccompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a metallic wick assembly of a firstembodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded, perspective view of the metallic wick assemblyof FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-section view of the metallic wick assembly of FIG.1.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the metallic wick assembly of FIG. 1,and illustrates the metallic wick assembly mounted to a lamp device.

FIG. 5 shows an exploded, perspective view of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 shows a cross-section view of FIG. 4, and illustrates the flamescale being larger.

FIG. 7 shows a partial, enlarged cross-section view of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 shows a cross-section view of FIG. 4, and illustrates the flamescale being smaller.

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the metallic wick of FIG. 1, andillustrates three metallic wicks mounted to another lamp device.

FIG. 10 shows an exploded, perspective view of the metallic wick of FIG.9.

FIG. 11 shows a cross-section view of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 shows an exploded, perspective view of the lamp device of FIG.9.

FIG. 13 shows a cross-section view taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 shows a continued view of FIG. 13, and illustrates a filmdetached from a cap of the lamp device.

FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of a metallic wick assembly of a secondembodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 shows an exploded, perspective view of the metallic wickassembly of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 shows a perspective view of the metallic wick assembly of FIG.15, and illustrates the metallic wick assembly mounted to the lampdevice and the flame scale being larger.

FIG. 18 shows a perspective view of the metallic wick assembly of FIG.15, and illustrates the metallic wick assembly mounted to a lamp deviceand the flame scale being smaller.

FIG. 19 shows a perspective view of a metallic wick assembly of a thirdembodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 20 shows an exploded, perspective view of the metallic wickassembly of FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 shows a cross-section view of the metallic wick assembly of FIG.19.

FIG. 22 shows a perspective view of a metallic wick assembly of a fourthembodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 23 shows an exploded, perspective view of the metallic wickassembly of FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 shows a cross-section view of the metallic wick assembly of FIG.22.

All figures are drawn for ease of explanation of the basic teachingsonly; the extensions of the figures with respect to number, position,relationship, and dimensions of the parts to form the illustrativeembodiments will be explained or will be within the skill of the artafter the following teachings have been read and understood. Further,the exact dimensions and dimensional proportions to conform to specificforce, weight, strength, and similar requirements will likewise bewithin the skill of the art after the following teachings have been readand understood.

Where used in the various figures of the drawings, the same numeralsdesignate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms“first”, “second”, “third”, “fourth”, “end”, “portion”, “longitudinal”,“radial”, “diameter”, “width”, “thickness”, and similar terms are usedherein, it should be understood that these terms have reference only tothe structure shown in the drawings as it would appear to a personviewing the drawings and are utilized only to facilitate describing theillustrative embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 through 3 show a first embodiment of a metallic wick assemblyaccording to the present invention shown in the drawings. The metallicwick assembly 1 generally includes a mesh member 10 and a sleeve member20 mounted around the mesh member 10. The mesh member 10 is rolled intoa tubular shape and having a plurality of circles spaced from each otheralong a longitudinal axis A to form an Archimedean spiral cross-sectionperpendicular to the longitudinal axis A. The mesh member 10 includesfirst and second ends 11 and 12 disposed opposite to each other alongthe longitudinal axis A, and first and second surfaces 13 and 14respectively extended from the first end 11 to the second end 12 thereofand arranged opposite to each other. Furthermore, the mesh member 10essentially includes a plurality of metallic wires interlacing andoverlapping each other to form into a plurality of meshes 15 penetratingthe first and second surfaces 13 and 14 between the first and secondends 11 and 12 thereof. Each of the plurality of meshes 15 is formed ina quadrilateral shape, such as square or rhombus. Moreover, the meshmember 10 has the plurality of circles winding around the longitudinalaxis A at continuously increasing radial distance from the longitudinalaxis A to form a transport channel 16 extending from the first end 11 tothe second end 12 thereof along the longitudinal axis A. The transportchannel 16 includes a central section 17 disposed adjacent to thelongitudinal axis A and an annular section 18 connected with and windingaround the central section 17. The first surface 13 of the innermost oneof the plurality of circles is arranged around the longitudinal axis Ato form the central section 17. The first and second surfaces 13 and 14of the other circles facing each other except the innermost one aredefined with the annular section 18. The first surface 13 of theoutermost one of the plurality of circles is connected with and abuttedagainst the second surface 14 of the other circle arranged adjacent tothe outermost one.

The sleeve member 20 is made of metal and formed in a tubular shape. Thesleeve member 20 is slidably mounted around the mesh member 10 toprevent the mesh member 10 restored from the tubular shape to a flatshape. Moreover, the second surface 14 of the mesh member 10 is closelyabutted against an inner periphery of the sleeve member 20 by elasticrestoring force thereof to prevent the mesh member 10 inadvertentlysliding with respect to the sleeve member 20.

FIGS. 4 through 8 show the mesh member 10 cut into a predeterminedlength and the metallic wick assembly 1 mounted to a lamp device 2. Thelamp device 2 includes a fuel tank 21 and a cap 22 removably mounted onan open end of the fuel tank 21. The cap 22 has an essentially circularcross section and includes a bottom portion 221, a through hole 222longitudinally extending through the bottom portion 221, an annular wallportion 223 formed around a periphery of the bottom portion 221, and anabutted portion 224 formed around a periphery of the through hole 222and extending opposite to the bottom portion 221. The metallic wickassembly 1 is inserted through the through hole 222 of the cap 22 andcontacts with fuel 23 stored in the fuel tank 21. The bottom portion 221hinders the flame produced at the first end 11 to ignite fuel 23. Theannular wall portion 223 provides windproof function. The abuttedportion 224 abuts against the metallic wick assembly 1 to keep themetallic wick assembly 1 maintaining in an upright position. Thus, fuel23 is drawn from the second end 12 to the first end 11 of the metallicwick assembly 1 via the transport channel 16 by capillary action betweenthe plurality of meshes 15, the central and annular sections 16 and 17to reach the flame produced at the first end 11 it then vaporizes andcombusts. Moreover, the size of each of the plurality of meshes 15 isunchanged or only has a very small deformation when the mesh member 10is rolled into the plurality of circles, so that appearance factors ofthe metallic wick assembly 1, such as height and diameter arepractically unchanged to cause that the metallic wick assembly 1 canprecisely maintain the flame scale during combustion. Furthermore, thetransport channel 16 can be adjusted to transfer fuel 23 quickly forigniting, even for high viscosity fuels.

Furthermore, the mesh member 10 includes a first length L1 definedbetween the first and second ends 11 and 12 thereof. The sleeve member20 includes a second length L2 defined between two longitudinal oppositeends thereof. The second length L2 of the sleeve member 20 is less thanthe first length L1 of the mesh member 10.

A third length L3 is defined between a distal end of the sleeve member20 and the first end 11 of the mesh member 10. A fourth length L4 isdefined between another distal end of the sleeve member 20 arrangedadjacent to the second end 12 of the mesh member 10 and a bottom surfaceof the fuel tank 21 to provide fuel 23 entering into the mesh member 10.Additionally, the fourth length L4 is greater than zero. Moreover, thesleeve member 20 is slidable with respect to the mesh member 10 toadjust the third length L3 for controlling the flame scale. When thethird length L3 is greater (shown in FIG. 6), the first end 11 of themesh member 10 can contact with more air to cause fuel 23 igniting andreacting with more oxygen, so that the flame scale is larger. Converselywhen the third length L3 is less (shown in FIG. 8), the first end 11 ofthe mesh member 10 can contact with less air to cause fuel 23 ignitingand reacting with less oxygen, so that the flame scale is smaller. Thefourth length L4 is changed in relation to the third length L3 toprovide fuel 23 entering into the mesh member 10.

FIGS. 9 through 14 show three metallic wick assembly 1 respectively cutinto a predetermined length and mounted to another lamp device 2 a. Thelamp device 2 a includes a fuel tank 21 a and a cap 22 a formedintegrally as a single piece. The cap 22 a has an essentially circularcross section and includes a bottom portion 221 a, a through hole 222 alongitudinally extending through the bottom portion 221 a. A pull tab 23a is removably connected to and close the through hole 222 a to avoidfuel 23 leaking out of the fuel tank 21 a. The pull tab 23 a has a ring231 a. A film 24 a is removably connected to one end of the cap 22 a andopposite to the bottom portion 221 a. A user can hooks his/her fingerthrough the ring 231 a and remove the pull tab 23 a from the throughhole 222 a, so that the through hole 222 a is interconnected with anopen end of the fuel tank 21 a.

The lamp device 2 a further includes a supporting assembly 3 mounted onthe cap 22 a. The supporting assembly 3 includes a fixing member 31 anda shield member 32. The fixing member 31 is connected to the bottomportion 221 a of the cap 22 a and has a through bore 311 communicatedwith the through hole 222 a of the cap 22 a. The shield member 32 ismounted into the through bore 311 of the fixing member 31. The shieldmember 32 includes a bottom section 321, three connecting holes 322longitudinally extending through the bottom section 321, and a wallsection 323 formed around a periphery of the bottom section 321. Thethree connecting holes 322, the through hole 222 a of the cap 22 a, andthe open end of the fuel tank 21 a are interconnected to each other, andthe three metallic wick assemblies 1 respectively insert therethrough.Thus, fuel 23 is drawn from the second end 12 to the first end 11 ofeach of the three metallic wick assemblies 1 via the transport channel16 by capillary action between the plurality of meshes 15. The bottomsection 321 hinders the flame produced at the first end 11 to ignitefuel 23. The wall section 323 provides windproof function.

FIGS. 15 through 18 show a second embodiment of the metallic wickassembly. Specifically, the second embodiment of the metallic wickassembly 1 a generally includes a mesh member 10 and a sleeve member 20a mounted around the mesh member 10. The structure of the mesh member 10is similar to the first embodiment substantially.

The sleeve member 20 a is made of metal and formed in a tubular shape.The sleeve member 20 a is slidably mounted around the mesh member 10 andhas a plurality of apertures 201 a. The sleeve member 20 a is delimitedfirst and second sections 202 a and 203 a at two opposite ends thereof.The plurality of apertures 201 a is arranged at the first section 202 ato provide fuel 23 passing therethrough and drawn up freely to the firstend 11 of the mesh member 10. The first section 202 a of the sleevemember 20 a is arranged adjacent to the first end 11 of the mesh member10 and has a fifth length L5. The second section 203 a of the sleevemember 20 a is arranged adjacent to the second end 12 of the mesh member10 and has a sixth length L6. The fifth length L5 is less than the sixthlength L6 (shown in FIG. 12). In a preferred form, the range of theratio of the fifth length L5 to the sixth length L6 is 0.3 to 0.5.

FIGS. 19 through 21 show a third embodiment of the metallic wickassembly. Specifically, the third embodiment of the metallic wickassembly 1 b generally includes a plurality of mesh members 10 a and asleeve member 20 mounted around the plurality of mesh members 10 a. Thestructure of the mesh member 20 is similar to the first embodimentsubstantially. The plurality of mesh members 10 a are respectivelyrolled into the plurality of different-sized tubes assembled andradially spaced from each other along a longitudinal axis A1 to form aconcentric circular cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axisA1. Each of the plurality of mesh members 10 a includes with first andsecond ends 11 a and 12 a disposed opposite to each other along thelongitudinal axis A1, and first and second surfaces 13 a and 14 arespectively extended from the first end 11 a to the second end 12 athereof and arranged opposite to each other. Each of the plurality ofmesh members 10 a further includes two side edges 101 a extending fromthe first end 11 a to the second end 12 a and connected with each other.Furthermore, each of the plurality of mesh members 10 a essentiallyincludes a plurality of metallic wires interlacing and overlapping eachother to form into a plurality of meshes 15 a penetrating between thefirst and second ends 11 a and 12 a thereof. Each of the plurality ofmeshes 15 a is formed in a rhombus shape. Moreover, the plurality ofmesh members 10 a are radially spaced from each other to form atransport channel 16 a extending from the first end 11 a to the secondend 12 a thereof along the longitudinal axis A1. The transport channel16 a includes a central section 17 a disposed adjacent to thelongitudinal axis A1 and a plurality of annular sections 17 asurrounding the central section 17 a. The first surface 13 a of theinnermost one of the plurality of mesh members 10 a arranged around thelongitudinal axis A1 to form the central section 17 a. The first andsecond surfaces 13 a and 14 a of the other mesh members 10 a facing andspaced from each other except the innermost one are defined with theannular sections 17 a.

FIGS. 22 through 24 show a fourth embodiment of the metallic wickassembly. Specifically, the fourth embodiment of the metallic wickassembly 1 c generally includes a plurality of mesh members 10 b and asleeve member 20 b mounted around the plurality of mesh members 10 b.The plurality of mesh members 10 b are spaced from each other andarranged in a longitudinal stacked array to form a rectangular crosssection. Each of the plurality of mesh members 10 b is formed in a flatshape and includes first and second ends 11 b and 12 b disposed oppositeto each other, and first and second surfaces 13 b and 14 b respectivelyextended from the first end 11 b to the second end 12 b thereof andarranged opposite to each other. Furthermore, each of the plurality ofmesh members 10 b essentially includes a plurality of metallic wiresinterlacing and overlapping each other to form into a plurality ofmeshes 15 b penetrating between the first and second ends 11 b and 12 bthereof. Moreover, the plurality of mesh members 10 b are spaced fromeach other to form a transport channel 16 b extending from the first end11 b to the second end 12 b thereof.

The sleeve member 20 b is made of metal and formed in a rectangulartubular shape corresponding to the rectangular cross section of the meshmember 10 b. The sleeve member 20 b is slidably mounted around the meshmember 10 b to prevent the plurality of the mesh members 10 bunassembled each other.

The metallic wick according to the present invention includes thefollowing advantages:

1. The metallic wick assembly 1; 1 a; 1 b; 1 c includes the sleevemember 20; 20 a; 20 b being slidable with respect to the mesh member 10;10 a; 10 b to adjust the third length L3 for controlling the flamescale.

2. The metallic wick assembly 1; 1 a; 1 b; 1 c includes the sleevemember 20; 20 a; 20 b slidably mounted around the mesh member 10; 10 a;10 b to prevent the mesh member 10; 10 a; 10 b unassembled.

3. The metallic wick assembly 1; 1 a; 1 b; 1 c includes the sleevemember 20; 20 a; 20 b having the plurality of apertures 201 a to providefuel 23 passing therethrough and drawn up quickly to the first end 11;11 a; 11 b of the mesh member 10; 10 a; 10 b.

4. The metallic wick assembly 1; 1 a; 1 b; 1 c includes the sleevemember 20; 20 a; 20 b slidably mounted around the mesh member 10; 10 a;10 b, so that they are assembled each other easily and quickly.

5. The metallic wick assembly 1; 1 a; 1 b; 1 c is made of metal, so thatit cannot be carbonized or consumed to maintain fixed shape and heightthereof to maintain the flame combustion scale.

6. The metallic wick assembly 1; 1 a; 1 b; 1 c includes the mesh member10; 10 a; 10 b having an end producing the flame thereon and heated bythe flame to cause fuel drawn to the end thereof vaporized and combustedmore completely due to higher wick temperature.

7. The number of circles, the size of meshes 15; 15 a; 15 b, the surfaceroughness and the coating materials of the mesh member 10; 10 a; 10 bare adjustable to control ability of capillary action adapted forwicking various fuels with different viscosity, so that the metallicwick assembly 1; 1 a; 1 b; 1 c can draw more viscous fuel faster to thetip thereof and can be ignited shortly (one minute or less).

8. The metallic wick assembly 1; 1 a; 1 b; 1 c does not loosen at aterminal end of the mesh member 10; 10 a; 10 b after cutting apredetermined length or trimming to be mounted on the lamp device 2; 2 aeasily.

9. The metallic wick assembly 1; 1 a; 1 b; 1 c is made of metal reducingmanufacturing costs to provide a popular price, in a preferred form, themesh member 10; 10 a; 10 b can be formed by a common metal wire mesh andthe sleeve member 20; 20 a; 20 b can be formed by a common metal tube.

Thus since the illustrative embodiments disclosed herein may be embodiedin other specific forms without departing from the spirit or generalcharacteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, theembodiments described herein are to be considered in all respectsillustrative and not restrictive. The scope is to be indicated by theappended claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A metallic wick assembly comprising: at least onemesh member including first and second ends disposed opposite to eachother, first and second surfaces respectively extended from the firstend to the second end thereof and arranged opposite to each other, aplurality of meshes penetrating the first and second surfaces betweenthe first and second ends thereof, and a transport channel extendingfrom the first end to the second end thereof drawing fuel by capillaryaction, with the mesh member including a first length defined betweenthe first and second ends thereof; and a sleeve member mounted aroundthe mesh member and including a second length defined between twolongitudinal opposite ends thereof, with the second length being lessthan the first length; wherein a third length is defined between adistal end of the sleeve member and the first end of the mesh member,with the sleeve member being slidable with respect to the mesh member toadjust the third length for controlling the flame scale.
 2. The metallicwick assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mesh member is rolledinto a tubular shape and having a plurality of circles spaced from eachother along a longitudinal axis, with the plurality of circles windingaround the longitudinal axis to form an Archimedean spiral cross-sectionperpendicular to the longitudinal axis at continuously increasing radialdistance from the longitudinal axis to form the transport channel. 3.The metallic wick assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the transportchannel includes a central section disposed adjacent to the longitudinalaxis and an annular section connected with and winding around thecentral section.
 4. The metallic wick assembly as claimed in claim 1,wherein the sleeve member has a plurality of apertures, with the sleevemember delimited first and second sections at two opposite ends thereof,with the plurality of apertures arranged at the first section to providefuel passing therethrough and drawn up quickly to the first end of themesh member.
 5. The metallic wick assembly as claimed in claim 1,includes a plurality of mesh members respectively rolled into theplurality of different-sized tubes assembled and radially spaced fromeach other along a longitudinal axis to form a concentric circular crosssection perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
 6. The metallic wickassembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of meshmembers further includes two side edges extending from the first end tothe second end and connected with each other.
 7. The metallic wickassembly as claimed in claim 1, includes a plurality of mesh membersspaced from each other and arranged in a longitudinal stacked array. 8.The metallic wick assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of theplurality of mesh members is formed in a flat shape.
 9. The metallicwick assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the sleeve member is madeof metal and formed in a rectangular tubular shape.
 10. A lamp devicecomprising: a metallic wick assembly including at least one mesh memberand a sleeve member, with the at least one mesh member including firstand second ends disposed opposite to each other, first and secondsurfaces respectively extended from the first end to the second endthereof and arranged opposite to each other, a plurality of meshespenetrating the first and second surfaces between the first and secondends thereof, and a transport channel extending from the first end tothe second end thereof drawing fuel by capillary action, with the meshmember including a first length defined between the first and secondends thereof, with the sleeve member mounted around the mesh member andincluding a second length defined between two longitudinal opposite endsthereof, with the second length being less than the first length, with athird length being defined between a distal end of the sleeve member andthe first end of the mesh member, with the sleeve member being slidablewith respect to the mesh member to adjust the third length forcontrolling the flame scale; a fuel tank adapted to store fuel; and acap connected to an open end of the fuel tank; wherein the metallic wickassembly is inserted through the cap and contacts with fuel, with fuelto be drawn from the second end to the first end of the mesh member viathe transport channel by capillary action to reach flame produced at thefirst end of the mesh member.
 11. The lamp device as claimed in claim10, wherein the mesh member is rolled into a tubular shape and having aplurality of circles spaced from each other along a longitudinal axis,with the plurality of circles winding around the longitudinal axis toform an Archimedean spiral cross-section perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis at continuously increasing radial distance from thelongitudinal axis to form the transport channel.
 12. The lamp device asclaimed in claim 11, wherein the transport channel includes a centralsection disposed adjacent to the longitudinal axis and an annularsection connected with and winding around the central section.
 13. Thelamp device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the sleeve member has aplurality of apertures, with the sleeve member delimited first andsecond sections at two opposite ends thereof, with the plurality ofapertures arranged at the first section to provide fuel passingtherethrough and drawn up fleetly to the first end of the mesh member.14. The lamp device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the metallic wickassembly includes a plurality of mesh members respectively rolled intothe plurality of different-sized tubes assembled and radially spacedfrom each other along a longitudinal axis to form a concentric circularcross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
 15. The lampdevice as claimed in claim 10, wherein metallic wick assembly includes aplurality of mesh members spaced from each other and arranged in alongitudinal stacked array.
 16. The lamp device as claimed in claim 15,wherein each of the plurality of mesh members is formed in a flat shape.17. The lamp device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the cap includes abottom portion, a through hole longitudinally extending through thebottom portion, with the metallic wick assembly inserting through thethrough hole of the cap and connects with fuel stored in the fuel tank.18. The lamp device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the cap furtherincludes an annular wall portion formed around a periphery of the bottomportion, and an abutted portion formed around a periphery of the throughhole and extending opposite to the bottom portion.
 19. The lamp deviceas claimed in claim 17, wherein the fuel tank and the cap are formedintegrally as a single piece, with a pull tab removably connected to andclose the through hole to avoid fuel leaking out of the fuel tank, witha film removably connected to one end of the cap opposite to the bottomportion.
 20. The lamp device as claimed in claim 19, wherein asupporting assembly is mounted on the cap and includes a fixing memberand a shield member, with the fixing member connected to the bottomportion of the cap and having a through bore communicated with thethrough hole of the cap, with the shield member mounted into the throughbore of the fixing member and including a bottom section, a connectinghole extending through the bottom section, and a wall section formedaround a periphery of the bottom section, with the connecting hole, thethrough hole of the cap, and the open end of the fuel tank beinginterconnected to each other.